Rooney set for new United deal

ESPN staff

August 28, 2013

Reports yesterday said Rooney wouldn't hand in a transfer request

David Moyes' first locking of horns with Jose Mourinho may have ended in a scoreless draw on Monday, but the Manchester United manager looks to have won his first off-field battle with the returning Chelsea coach with Wayne Rooney set to stay at Old Trafford.

Not only has the England striker seemingly made a U-turn on his decision to leave the Premier League champions, he looks set to be offered a new contract which will end the summer-long speculation about his future.

Rooney has just one year left on his deal at United and chief executive Edward Woodward has put him top of a list of players he wants to resolve in the coming weeks, as well as defender Nemanja Vidic and winger Nani.

The Daily Mail reports senior officials have been impressed with the way Moyes has handled the situation and the way Rooney has started the season, including two assists in the opening game at Swansea as well as a man of the match performance against Chelsea.

But United will not be able to offer Rooney the same £250,000-a-week salary he currently earns, with any offer likely to depend heavily on performance and appearances.

Mourinho has attempted to lure Rooney to Stamford Bridge but was knocked back twice, and with Chelsea set to make a third and final offer, Mourinho handed Rooney an ultimatum about where he was going to play his football next season.

But Rooney turned down the opportunity to invite Chelsea to come and get him and, according to the Daily Telegraph, sources close to the club suggest Mourinho is resigned to missing out on the 27-year-old and is instead in advanced negotiations with Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o, who is likely to cost around £2 million.